Up Front by Emma Hart

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Up Front: Casual, Shallow and Meaningless

223 Responses

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  • Hebe, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Still more forms! And I haven't even done my EQC contents claim.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    I could see " Facebook" being an answer to that.

    Do you reckon young people think of that as "reading"?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • HORansome, in reply to Sacha,

    Completely anecdotal data says "Yes." My first years (in a fairly large class so it's an okay sample size[1]) seem to read a lot and very widely, if the books I see them reading is any indication.

    1. Of course, my sample is already biased, given that they are uni students.

    Tāmaki Makaurau • Since Sep 2008 • 441 posts Report Reply

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Hebe,

    But if you get the contents claim in by the end of the month they promise to pay out before Christmas! Which is interesting because they've had ours since... May?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to HORansome,

    my sample is already biased, given that they are uni students

    extremely

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Thanks, I know about the Crhistmas claim queue.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • JacksonP,

    You know, all these ideas are good, but maybe Jim was onto something.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Elmo is love - says the man who brings the red critter to life.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • JacksonP, in reply to Sacha,

    Elmo is love - says the man who brings the red critter to life.

    Dude, the trailer had me at 'Hello'. Can't wait to take the kids to that.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Sacha,

    Yep I reckon. If, when I even suggest human contact with regards other stuff, kids I know say can you facebook me, so I can imagine that being a default answer now. I've taken to responding to some of them when asked different things. "Why are you googling me?"

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Yeah but that's hanging out or communicating, not "reading".

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to JacksonP,

    What a dude. He was so damn funny ad-libbing on Rove.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Sacha,

    Yeah but

    Nah but, Casual shallow and... meaningless. ;)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Elvis gets Elmoed

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Sacha,

    I could see " Facebook" being an answer to that.
    Do you reckon young people think of that as "reading"?

    How could they not?
    Unless, of course, they were just looking at the pictures but then someone that illiterate could not set up a Facebook page on account of not being able to read.
    So, if it's got words and you can understand them then you are reading. QED.
    annat.
    Even following the instructions on a pack of 2 minute noodles is reading.
    In fact, anything more complex than that eats into valuable TV time.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Reading was used above in its recreational sense. Not as part of a communication process.

    When someone asks "what have you been reading?" only a tiresomely unfunny ass would reply "a cornflake packet" or "a phone number".

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    Reading was used above in its recreational sense. Not as part of a communication process.

    When someone asks "what have you been reading?" only a tiresomely unfunny ass would reply "a cornflake packet" or "a phone number".

    So what if the answer was "Public Address System"? Is *this* reading, socialising, or something else again?

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    have you heard anyone say "I'm reading Facebook"?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Isabel Hitchings, in reply to Lucy Stewart,

    I can socialise without making a complete fool of myself - or if I can't, no-one's been unkind enough to tell me - but the step from acquaintance to active socialising outside of obligatory contexts (work, university, clubs, etc)? Still a bit of a mystery. It's happened, but I couldn't tell you how.

    That leap from friendly acquaintance to actual friend has a lot of magic and mystery to it. Like you, I have no idea how it happens, though it is a joy and a wonder when it does. What I do know is that small talk will not do it.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Sacha,

    it is called interFacing isn't it?

    have you heard anyone say "I'm reading Facebook"?

    not unless they are skyping or have left the mic on
    - like reading books it is a solitary endeavour
    Not working - Networking!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Isabel Hitchings,

    What I do know is that small talk will not do it.

    Beg to differ,
    Small talk, as in " Where do you fit in?"
    I chat on the same forum and heard people were going down here tonight so thought I'd check it out"
    can lead to
    'Well have you got a business card?"
    can lead to
    "Let's stay in touch"
    can come from
    "I think these people will get along because I know they have something in common"
    or even smaller talk.
    "Hi,Let me buy you a drink?" (he,she/ladyboy/etc.)
    "Ok, noticed you too" (he/she/ladyboy/etc)
    ...pool table...birthday party....
    ...and they lived happily ever after. (or is that just me?)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • JacksonP, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    Small talk, as in " Where do you fit in?"
    I chat on the same forum and heard people were going down here tonight so thought I'd check it out"
    can lead to
    'Well have you got a business card?"

    The inconsequential serendipitous meetings that change the course of history.

    Not that I'm saying it will, but hey, you never know. ;-)

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 2450 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to JacksonP,

    Not that I'm saying it will, but hey, you never know. ;-)

    And I'm a good salesperson, one may never know the benefits of small talk, you gotta be there to be in it.

    Friendbook, ...where everyone can get along. :) Friend help friend innit!

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Isabel Hitchings,

    **@Sofie Bribiesca small talk can definitely be a small, first step towards friendship but it is neither necessary nor sufficient for the process. There are people I have known for years with whom I have never progressed beyond small talk, and people I consider dear friends with whom it was all soul-baring at first meeting.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard,

    Wow, so much small talk! I've been out of the loop for a few days and look what happens...

    I'm often not too bad at small talk, though I don't particularly relish it. I'd like to be better at (a) initiating small talk in social situations so that I can then (b) make a transition to middling talk, thus working out whether there's an opportunity to move on to big talk. But what I loathe is premature big talk that I'm either not interested in (see under "children" above) or that assumes I share my interlocutor's prejudices, and is thus likely to end in tears.

    What I do enjoy is conversation that is neither formulaic niceties nor serious discourse, but that for want of a better word I'll call "banter". It's a mixture of puns, flirtation, double entendres, gossip, anecdotes, kvetching, ranting, playful jibes and general silliness, with the occasional seasoning of more serious content. It generally
    only applies between good friends and established drinking buddies (yes, drinking helps), but if you meet someone who sparks into your conversation straight away then they'll probably fall into one of those two categories before long. Even if we're not exactly the Algonquin Round Table, it's a form of social interaction that I'm glad I get to enjoy several times a week.

    Funnily enough, I really enjoy talking with my hairdresser, and we mostly talk about sex. Over the years I've got to know a lot of surprisingly intimate details about her sex life, and she's got to know a lot about mine ... which means that the two are now highly unlikely to overlap.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

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